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Local residents ride a fishing boat past navy search and rescue ships before the ships depart for the search area for a missing Malaysia Airlines plane, at a port on Vietnam’s Phu Quoc island March 9, 2014. — Reuters picKUALA LUMPUR, March 9 — Amid public curiosity and ridicule, a defence expert explained today that the Royal Malaysian Navy's submarines are fitted for combat and could not perform a search and rescue role.

In comparison, the submersible sent by Singapore to help search for the missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 is a support-and-rescue vessel.

“Submarines are for warfare, can’t see underwater, can only detect sonar,” the expert told The Malay Mail Online on condition of anonymity.

“Sonar” refers to a method that uses sound waves to navigate, communicate with or detect objects on or under the surface of the water.

There are two types of “sonar” technology: passive sonar that listens for the sound made by other vessels and active sonar, which emits pulses of sounds and listens for echoes.

“The vessel Singapore is sending has equipments to search underwater. It is a relatively new technology that we don't have,” he explained.

In the Gallery

People take pictures of a flight information board displaying the Scheduled Time of Arrival (STA) of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 (top, in red) at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

A relative of a passenger onboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, covers her face as she cries at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

Journalists attempt to interview a woman who is the relative of a passenger on Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, as she crouches on the floor crying, at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

A man takes pictures of a flight information board displaying the Scheduled Time of Arrival (STA) of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 (top, in red) at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

Journalists wait in a conference room for a news conference regarding the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, at a hotel in Beijing, March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

Family members of those on-board the missing Malaysia Airlines flight walk into the waiting area at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

A relative of a passenger onboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 cries at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

Family members of those on-board the missing Malaysia Airlines flight, walk into the waiting area at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

Family members of those on-board the missing Malaysia Airlines flight, walk into the waiting area at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

The holding area set up at Level 5 for family members of those on-board the missing Malaysia Airlines flight at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, March 8, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choy May

Distraught family members of those on-board the missing Malaysia Airlines flight, arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, March 8, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choy May

Distraught family members of those on-board the missing Malaysia Airlines flight, arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, March 8, 2014. — Picture by Choo Choy May

Journalists take pictures and videos of a relative of a passenger of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, at a hotel in Beijing, March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

A crying woman is escorted to a bus for relatives at the Beijing Airport after news of the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200 plane on March 8, 2014. — AFP pic

A Malaysia Airlines spokesman speaks to journalists regarding information about Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, during a news conference at a hotel in Beijing, March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and MAS group chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya at a press conference at the Sama-Sama Hotel in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. — Picture by Choo Choy May

Family members of those onboard the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 are interviewed by media at the waiting area at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

A relative of a passenger of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 speaks to journalists at a hotel in Beijing, March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

A relative of a passenger of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 talks on a mobile phone as journalists attempt to interview her at a hotel in Beijing, March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

A woman, whose husband is a passenger of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, attempts to leave a hotel after complaining about Malaysia Airlines, in Beijing, March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

A Vietnamese Air Force officer takes photos from a search and rescue aircraft in the search area for a missing Malaysia Airlines plane, 250km from Vietnam and 190km from Malaysia, in this handout photo from Thanh Nien Newpaper taken March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

An aerial view of an oil spill is seen from a Vietnamese Air Force aircraft in the search area for a missing Malaysia Airlines plane, 250km from Vietnam and 190km from Malaysia, in this handout photo from Thanh Nien Newpaper taken on March 8, 2014. — Reuters pic

According to Singapore's Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen last night, the republic will send the vessel to help find the missing aircraft.

“We have a vessel which is equipped to perform underwater search and can assist in the search and locate operations. It also has divers on the vessel,” Ng told reporters yesterday.

The Navy has two Scorpene class submarines in its fleet, dubbed KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Abdul Razak that cost over RM2 billion each.

The diesel-electric attack submarines can dive to a depth of up to 350 metres and carry a 31-man crew each.

At over 60 metres long, they are also equipped with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.

At only 9.6 metres long, it is operated by a two-man crew and can dive up to 500 metres.

“US vessels that are being deployed could also have the similar technology,” the defence expert added.

“We don’t have the technology to look deep under water, maybe the US does.”

But he also pointed out the challenges in deep-sea searches, noting that the Royal Malaysian Air Force had lost a SkyHawk fighter jet at the South China Sea in 1980s that was never found.

MH370 has been missing for over 40 hours and its location continues to remain a mystery despite a massive search and rescue operation jointly conducted by Malaysian and foreign militaries.

A total of 22 military aircraft are currently retracing the route taken by the Malaysia Airlines plane and a fleet of 40 ships are also plying the waters between Malaysia and Vietnam, according to Malaysian Armed Forces.

The craft are mostly Malaysian military, but also include ships and aircraft from the US Navy, the Royal Thai Navy and Air Force, as well as vessels from China and Indonesia.

The search scope was widened further after the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) confirmed its radar sighted a possible attempt by MH370 to turn back midflight.